Chokeberry Aronia arbutifolia
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Pyrus arbutifolis and Photinia pyrifolia
- Sorbus arbutifolia
- Phonetic Spelling
- ar-OH-nee-ah ar-bew-tih-FOH-lee-ah
- Description
-
Aronia arbutifolia, commonly called red chokeberry, is a deciduous, multi-stemmed shrub that is native to both wet and dry thickets in Eastern North America (Nova Scotia and Ontario to Ohio south to Texas and Florida). It typically grows in a vase-shaped form to 6-10’ tall and to 3-6' wide but tends to sucker and form colonies. The plant has a stiff, upright habit with a vase shape. It has a fibrous root system and spreads by suckers. An easy transplant. It is best used in a mass planting as it tends to become leggy with age. The Red Chokeberry is easily grown in average, medium moisture soils. It has a wide range of soil tolerance, including boggy soils. Remove root suckers to prevent colonial spread.
Fire Risk: This plant has a low flammability rating.
History of Name: The common name is in reference to the tart and bitter berries which are technically edible but are so astringent as to cause choking in those who try.
Regions: Mountain, Piedmont, Coastal Plains
Seasons of Interest:
Leaf: Fall Blooms: Spring Nut/Fruit/Seed: Fall
Wildlife Value: This plant has little resistance to damage from deer. Its fruits are eaten by mammals and birds.
Insects, Diseases, or Other Plant Problems: This plant has some susceptibility to leaf spots and twig/fruit blight.
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Brilliantissima'
salt tolerant - 'Erecta'
An upright form. Fruits not as colorful as the species - 'Professor Ed'
Small glossy green leaves turn wine-red in autumn; profuse,purple-black fruits;relatively compact selection.
- 'Brilliantissima'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Brilliantissima'
salt tolerant - 'Erecta'
An upright form. Fruits not as colorful as the species - 'Professor Ed'
Small glossy green leaves turn wine-red in autumn; profuse,purple-black fruits;relatively compact selection.
- 'Brilliantissima'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Aronia
- Species:
- arbutifolia
- Family:
- Rosaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Aronia has been used by Native Americans to treat the common cold.
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern North America
- Fire Risk Rating:
- low flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- Its winter berries are eaten by mammals and birds.
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Food Source
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- tfire in the landscape. Tolerates a range of soil types (wet, dry), transplant
- Edibility:
- Berries, but bitter and astringent (the common name is in reference to the tart and bitter berries which are technically edible but are so astringent as to cause choking in those who try). The fruits are sometimes used to make tasty jams and jellies.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 6 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Edible
- Native Plant
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Multi-stemmed
- Multi-trunked
- Open
- Rounded
- Spreading
- Vase
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Drainage:
- Frequent Standing Water
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Pome
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Its red berries last into the winter. The flowers are followed by abundant glossy red fruits (1/4” diameter) which appear in dense clusters along the branches. The fruits ripen in late summer and persist on the shrub throughout fall and well into winter. The best fruit production occurs in a full sun site. The fruits are sometimes used to make tasty jams and jellies. The fruit has an astringent taste that birds do not prefer.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Corymb
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- This plant has white flowers in spring. The Red Chokeberry has clusters (corymbs) of white to light pink, 5-petaled flowers (1/3”diameter) that appear in spring.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Orange
- Pink
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Oblong
- Obovate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The Red Chokeberry has elliptic to oblong to obovate leaves (to 3 1/2” long) that are a glossy dark green above and pubescent grayish-green beneath. The foliage turns bright red in autumn and compares favorably with burning bush (Euonymus alatus) for excellence of fall color.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Recreational Play Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Children's Garden
- Native Garden
- Rain Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Dry Soil
- Fire
- Wet Soil
